Danger in the Crossroads

Whenever my little son tries to do something dangerous, like touching the oven, I say at the top of my voice: “NO! DANGER, DANGER!” He will stop what he is doing and, in an attempt to mimic me the best he can, say “ANKER!”

Problem solved (at least for that day.)

I wonder if this tactic would work with the town of Glenville. Glenville is home to one of the most dangerous intersections I have encountered in the Capital Region. The intersection of Cuthbert Street/Washington Avenue and Route 50 (North Ballston Rd)is treacherous, and someone is going to get hurt.

Since moving to Glenville last year, I navigate this intersection at least three times a week to get onto Route 50. I went into shame spirals the first two times I had to slam my brakes to avoid an accident. I berated myself for being a bad driver and not up to speed on the rules of the road. The third time almost turned into a terrible road rage situation as a driver in a pick-up truck took it as a personal affront that I was trying to turn onto Cuthbert Street from Route 50 as he was turning onto Washington Avenue from the opposite direction. I can’t count the number times I have watched the driver ahead of me stop just in time to avoid a collision.

Here is the problem: This intersection is treated like, well, a regular intersection. It is not. Cuthbert Street and Washington Avenue are not connected. They run diagonal to each other. Plus, there is a railroad bridge which obstructs the view for drivers on Cuthbert and Washington waiting for the light. Both Cuthbert and Washington have left turning lanes. This really does not matter since there are no left arrow signals at the intersection.

Once the light turns green, it is every man and woman for themselves. Turning left onto Route 50 from Cuthbert? Well, don’t forget the driver on Washington wanting to turn right onto Route 50 because they will do it right in front of you. Want to drive diagonally from Washington to get onto Cuthbert or vice versa? Be careful because cars will also be turning left onto Route 50 to go north into Glenville or left from Washington to go south into Scotia.

Want to see a near accident? Just sit on the corner and wait five minutes. Watch cars navigating in this no-man’s land in the middle of the crossroads.

All of these problems could easily be fixed by installing traffic lights with arrow signals, or delayed lights in which cars on Cuthbert, Washington and Route 50 take turns driving into the intersection. Will drivers have to wait longer? Yes, they will. But I hope you agree that waiting an extra five minutes is superior to having your car totaled — or much worse.